Conveyancing

Conveyancing is the legal work that moves ownership of property from one person to another. Asset Conveyancing handles that work for buyers, sellers, investors and developers in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania, from our head office in Adelaide and virtual offices in Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia.

What is conveyancing?

Conveyancing is the process of preparing, checking and completing the documents that transfer title to land, then settling the sale so the buyer is registered as owner and the seller is paid. It starts when a contract is prepared or reviewed and ends after settlement, when the transfer and any new mortgage are registered with the state land titles office.

In between sit the parts that cause most problems: special conditions, cooling-off deadlines, searches, finance, transfer duty and adjustments. Each has a date attached, and missing one can put a contract at risk.

What does a conveyancer do for buyers and sellers?

A conveyancer protects your position under the contract and makes sure everything needed for settlement is ready on time. The work differs depending on which side you are on.

For buyers, we review the contract and vendor disclosure before you sign, explain the special conditions, run title and other searches, track finance and inspection deadlines, calculate adjustments, arrange payment of transfer duty and settle electronically. See buyer conveyancing for detail.

For sellers, we prepare the contract and the disclosure documents your state requires, often before the property can be marketed, deal with the buyer’s conveyancer, arrange discharge of your mortgage and make sure the sale proceeds are paid where they should go. See seller conveyancing for detail.

Do you need a conveyancer or a solicitor?

For most residential and commercial property transfers, a licensed conveyancer can do the work. Conveyancers specialise in property transactions. Solicitors can also handle conveyancing and are the right choice when a matter turns into a dispute or needs court action. Our guide on whether you need a conveyancer or solicitor covers the differences.

How can one conveyancing team work across six states?

Each state has its own property legislation, standard contracts, disclosure rules, cooling-off rights and revenue office, so a national conveyancer has to know each system rather than apply one process everywhere. Our principal, Paul Sande, holds a conveyancer’s licence in numerous states, and our team settles matters in all six.

Because settlement now happens online through PEXA, where we are based does not limit where we can act. A buyer in Adelaide purchasing in Brisbane, or a Perth investor selling in Melbourne, deals with the same person throughout. The main differences by state:

• South Australia: the seller serves a Form 1 vendor’s statement, and the buyer’s cooling-off period runs from when it is served.
• Victoria: the seller must give a Section 32 vendor statement before the buyer signs, and off-the-plan sunset clauses are restricted by law.
• New South Wales: a contract for sale must be prepared before a home is marketed, and buyers can shorten or waive cooling-off with a certificate from their solicitor or licensed conveyancer.
• Queensland: since 1 August 2025, sellers must give a seller disclosure statement and prescribed certificates before the buyer signs.
• Western Australia: sales usually proceed on an offer and acceptance form with the Joint Form of General Conditions, and there is generally no statutory cooling-off period.
• Tasmania: there is generally no statutory cooling-off period, so contract conditions and the buyer’s own searches carry more weight.

What are the steps in the conveyancing process?

Every transaction follows the same broad sequence, although the documents, deadlines and terminology vary by state and by whether you are buying or selling.

1. Engage a conveyancer. Ideally before you sign or list. We confirm the property, the parties and the state rules that apply, and assign one qualified professional to your matter.
2. Contract review or preparation. Buyers get a review of the contract, special conditions and disclosure documents. Sellers get a contract and disclosure package prepared to meet state requirements.
3. Cooling-off and conditions. We diarise the cooling-off period (where one applies) and every condition date, such as finance, building and pest, or sale of another property.
4. Searches and due diligence. Title, plan, encumbrance, council, water, land tax and strata searches confirm what you are buying and what must be cleared or adjusted at settlement.
5. Finance and duty. We work with your lender or broker on loan documents and calculate the transfer duty and any concessions so funds are ready.
6. PEXA settlement. We prepare the settlement statement and adjustments, then settle online with the other party, the banks and the land titles office.
7. After settlement. We confirm registration, notify council and water authorities of the change of ownership, and close the file.

What types of property do we handle?

We act for individuals, investors, developers, builders and international buyers on:

• Established houses, units and townhouses
• Strata and community title property
• Rural property and vacant land
• Off-the-plan purchases and developer subdivisions
• Commercial and industrial property
• Auction purchases and sales, refinances and family transfers

Every matter is managed from start to completion by one delegated qualified professional, so you always know who is handling your file and what happens next.

Common questions about conveyancing

When should I engage a conveyancer?

Before you sign anything. Buyers get the most value from a review of the contract and special conditions before signing, because once the contract is binding and any cooling-off period has ended, unfavourable terms are hard to change. Sellers should engage a conveyancer before marketing, since several states require the contract or disclosure documents to be ready first.

Can a conveyancer in another state handle my purchase?

Yes, provided they are licensed or otherwise authorised to act in the state where the property is located. Settlement is completed electronically through PEXA, so the conveyancer does not need to be physically present. Asset Conveyancing acts on transactions in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania.

How long does conveyancing take?

It depends on the settlement date agreed in the contract, not on the conveyancer. Settlement periods are negotiated between buyer and seller and can be shorter or longer depending on finance, the parties’ circumstances and the property type. Off-the-plan purchases can take much longer because settlement cannot occur until the new title is registered.

What is PEXA?

PEXA is the online platform used to settle most property transactions in Australia. The conveyancers for each side, the banks and the land titles office work in a shared electronic workspace, funds move between accounts electronically and the transfer is lodged for registration at the same time. It replaces the old practice of meeting in person to swap cheques and paper documents.

Does conveyancing include advice on stamp duty?

Yes, as it applies to the transaction. We calculate the transfer duty payable, check whether a first home buyer or other concession may apply, and arrange payment through settlement. Rates and eligibility are set by each state revenue office, such as RevenueSA or Revenue NSW, and change from time to time, so we check them for your matter rather than rely on a general figure.